A Moroccan Musical Soirée is a 10 Days/ 9 Nights Morocco Tour designed for the sophisticated, cultured traveler drawn to discover exotic cities. Accompanied by evenings of charmed and powerful classical music performances and four wine tasting events this boutique Morocco Journey offers a once in a lifetime experience. This unique Morocco Tour created by Travel Exploration Morocco and Aviv Productions takes Classical Music out of its traditional context.

Kasbah, Marrakech La Maison Arabe

March 3rd – 12th, 2013: A Musical Moroccan Soire Tour Itinerary

Your very private party in Morocco awaits you…A spiced infused night cap…..Milk and pettit-fours…..Hot chocolate a la Morocco and fragrant bed time tea.

►Breakfast at your Hotel in Casablanca. Then take the road to Meknes.
►Begin your visit at the 18th Century Meknes Palace built by Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah.
►Enter Place El-Hedime (Square of Ruins) which links the medina and the kasbah.
►Visit the Musée Dar Jamaï, a museum showing modern Moroccan arts, woodwork, ceramics, carpets, costumes, jewelryand metalwork.
►Explore the Bou Inania Medersa’s beautiful Koranic school established by the Merinids in the 14th century. Visit the Grand Mosque, the Thursday Gate (Bab El-Khemis) and Horse Stables.
►Lunch in Meknes. Visit a Winery in Meknes.
►Then take the road to explore the breathtaking archaeological site of Volubilis (Walili).
►Once occupied by the Romans, Volubilis has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site and gained international acclaim when Martin Scorsese made it a feature location for his film, The Last Temptation of Christ.
Begin your visit by discovering the fascinating Roman ruins adorned with beautiful mosaics and colorful tiles depicting Roman mythology.
►Enjoy tea at the small café that sits just below the Volubilis ruins. Next explore the open-air museum with remains of altars, sculptural fragments and colorful mosaics. Take the road to Fes.►Spend the night at the 5 Star Luxury Riad in Fes.
(Breakfast Included. Lunch & Dinner Not Included.)

Piano, Riad Fes

March 5th: Fes Guided Historical Tour (Jewish Heritage Sites of Fes & UNESCO Monuments)►Breakfast at your Riad in Fes.
►Visit 14th Century Palace Gates of the King and The Royal Palace in Fes.
►Jewish Mellah – The Mellah is a Jewish quarter located in the old cities of Morocco with a walled boundary.
►Ibn Danan Jewish Synagogue
►Jewish Cemetery & Tomb of Solica
►Walk through one of the oldest and most beautiful preserved Jewish streets in Morocco from the time of the inquisition.
►Rcife – Enter the medina from a “bab” or region of the old medina, Fes el Bali known as Rcife which is the heart of manufacturing of all Fassis goods.
►Dyers souk of silk, wool and cotton
►Seffraine Square – Place el-Seffarine
►The Tannery
► Lunch at a Traditional Moroccan Restaurant in Fes- 5 Course Meal
► The Bou Inania Medersa
► Pottery & Zellij Tile Cooperative
►Dinner at your Riad or one of Fes Best Restaurants

▶Dinner in Fes. Your Riad or one of Fes Best Restaurants.
►Spend the night at the 5 Star Luxury Riad in Fes.
(Breakfast Included. Lunch & Dinner Not Included.)

March 7th: Fes – Ifrane – Azro – Beni Mellal –►Breakfast at your Riad.
►En route to Marrakech visit Ifrane, “little Switzerland.” Tea and Pastries surrounded by Moroccan architecture and orange grooves.
►Lunch in Beni Mellal.
►Continue the road and arrive in Marrakech in the early evening.
►Check into your Riad that is centrally located, explore the Djemma El Fna Square on your own.▶Dinner in Marrakech. Your Riad or one of Marrakech Best Restaurants.
►Spend the night at the 5 Star Luxury Riad in Marrakech.
(Breakfast Included. Lunch & Dinner Not Included.)

Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech

March 8th: Marrakech Guided Historical Tour►Breakfast at your Riad. Visit the following sites during a Marrakech Guided Historical Tour.►The Majorelle Gardens – The Majorelle Garden is a twelve acre botanical garden. Previously the Jardin Bou Saf, it bears its name from its original creator, Jacques Majorelle, the French expatriate artist who was born in Nancy France in 1886. The garden has been open to the public since 1947. Since 1980 the garden has been owned by Yves Saint- Laurent and Pierre Berge.
►The Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens – The largest mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. The name is derived from the Arabic al-Koutoubiyyin for librarian, since it used to be surrounded by sellers of manuscripts. It is considered the ultimate structure of its kind.
►The Saadian Tombs – The Saadian tombs in Marrakech date back from the time of the sultan Ahmad al -Mansur. The tombs were only recently discovered (in 1917) and were restored by the Beaux-arts service.
►El Bahia Palace – The El Bahia Palace in Marrakech is a beautiful building and an excellent example of Eastern Architecture from the 19th century that represents trends and standards of the wealthy who lived at that time.
►The Jewish Mellah – Founded in 1558 by Moulay Abdallah, the Mellah district was designated as the Jewish quarter in Marrakech. At the time of the Spanish religious wars, Jewish refugees were escaping the country, and were offered this little piece of security by the Sultan.
►The Old Spice Market – The Rahba Kedima is a colorful market filled with a wide array of spices from Cumin, Cinnamon, Saffron, Dried Pepper and more.►Maison Tiskiwin Musuem – This museum belonged to Mr. Bert Flint who was a collector of local Marrakech art. The museum is open to the public and the travelers and exhibits basket works, jewelry, textiles and many other things. An excellent compilation of Moroccan art and artifacts is housed in the Maison Tiskiwin museum.▶Dinner in Marrakech. Your Riad or one of Marrakech Best Restaurants.
►Spend the night at the 5 Star Luxury Riad in Marrakech.
(Breakfast Included. Lunch & Dinner Not Included.)

March 9th: Marrakech Guided Garden Visit or Cooking Class Option►Rise, have breakfast at your Riad
►Morning Option: Attend a cooking lesson using Moroccan Spices & Moroccan Tajine from 10:00am – 2:00pm.
►Visit Marrakech’s Menara Gardens. Have a leisurely walk through the gardens. The Menara Gardens are located to the west of Marrakech at the gates of the Atlas Mountains.

►Next, head to The Mamounia Hotel & Gardens for Tea & Lunch. La Mamounia is where Alfred Hitchcock wrote the movie “The Birds.”
►After lunch at La Mamounia spend the day exploring Marrakech on your own or with your guide shopping in the Djemma.

March 10th: Marrakech – Ourika Valley Excursion►Breakfast at your Riad. Explore Marrakech on your own or visit the Ourika Valley’s Setti Fatima’s Seven Waterfalls. ►Take a day off from the “red hamra” city and head southeast of Marrakech. Visit the Souk Tnine de L’orika, the gateway to the pleasant Ourika Valley.
►The souk, located near a picturesque zaouia with a rock drop background, has the largest souk of the valley every Monday. Your driver will stop and browse at local crafts and other Moroccan treasures.
►Visit the Setti Fatma 7 Waterfalls, a favorite weekend resort of many Marrakshis that is appreciated for its beautiful streams and falls. Hike in Ourika.
►Have lunch near the Setti Fatma Cascades in a traditional Moroccan restaurant or have a picnic near the lake.

▶Dinner in Marrakech. Your Riad or one of Marrakech Best Restaurants.
►Spend the night at the 5 Star Luxury Riad in Marrakech.
(Breakfast Included. Lunch & Dinner Not Included.)

Seaside Essaouira

MARCH 11th: Marrakech – Essaouira Guided Historical Tour► Rise, breakfast at your Riad. Then take the road to visit the seaside port of Essaouira.
►The journey to this former Portuguese fishing village offers up only a few roadside towns and the occasional Berber village.
►In the ’60s and ’70s, Essaouira was a pitstop on the hippie trek from Marrakesh. Jimi Hendrix made the pilgrimage, as did Bob Marley and Cat Stevens. Essaouira was the inspiration for Hendrix’s song “Castles Made of Sand”.
► Visit this sea-side medieval town that boasts lovely white-washed and blue-shuttered houses, colonnades, thuya wood workshops, art galleries and mouthwatering seafood.
► Take a stroll along the town’s sunlit pedestrian main square, Place Prince Moulay el Hassan and the Skala du Port, the fishing harbor, offers breathtaking views of the Portuguese ramparts.
►Explore the ramparts and the spice and jewelry souks of the medina. Your guide will take you to the old Jewish Mellah and explain the entire history of Essaouira.
► The medina of Essaouira (formerly “Mogador”) is a UNESCO World Heritage listed city, as an example of a late-18th century fortified town.
► Have lunch at the fish-grill cafes, with wooden tables and benches laid out overlooking the sea.
► After lunch visit Orson Welles’ Square and memorial, designed by Samir Mustapha, one of the towns artists, which pays homage to Orson Welles filming of Othello in Essouaria. ▶Dinner in Marrakech. Your Riad or one of Marrakech Best Restaurants.
►Spend the night at the 5 Star Luxury Riad in Marrakech.
(Breakfast Included. Lunch & Dinner Not Included.)

MARCH 12th: Marrakech – Casablanca Deprature►Breakfast at your Riad, then take the road to Casablanca. Departure from Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport.

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Restaurant menus and wine shops in Morocco present travelers with an astounding array of choice in excellent Moroccan wines. But where should the person unfamiliar with Moroccan wines begin? This article will provide a starting point and serve as a Moroccan Wine Guide by recommending some inexpensive good-value Moroccan wines.

Morocco has been a leading wine producer and its bold red and white grapes have become popular among the French, Americans and within Modern Moroccan households. When the French colonized Morocco, like the Romans centuries before them, they realized Morocco’s possibility of being a wine country. The French developed Meknès, a Moroccan Imperial City, into a wine region. Today 30,000 acres of land in Morocco contribute to wine production and Morocco sells over 40 million bottles within Morocco and abroad. Moroccan wine is in a state of revival and wine producers are taking advantage of the country’s sunny, mild temperate climate, and high altitudes.

Although most Moroccans do not drink alcohol due to religious prohibitions, Moroccoprovides a home to groups of ex-patriots and foreigners from France, England, America, Spain, Germany and Italy who enjoy healthy alcohol consumption. Wine production has greatly assisted in Morocco’s tourism sector and created much needed jobs. Close to 10,000 Moroccans are employed through the wine-making industry within the fourteen regions of Morocco. The fourteen wine making regions of Morocco are Agadir, Boulaouane, Casablanca, Fes, Kenitra, Marrakech, Melilla, Meknes, Ouarzazate, Rabat, Safi, Sidi Ifni, Tangier, and Tetouan.

Map of the Fourteen Wine-Growing Regions of Morocco

Even though Morocco has fourteen wine-growing districts, wines from some of these regions are not widely available. Some common, easily-found appellations includeGerrouane, Beni MTtir, Benslimane, and Zenatta. (Gerrouane and Beni M’Tir alone account for over sixty percent of Moroccan wine production.)

The Beni M’Tir Wine-Growing Region of Morocco

Moroccan Guide To Inexpensive Red Wines:

For anyone wanting to sample a good standard Moroccan red; or when ordering for a group of red wine drinkers of varying tastes, it’s hard to go wrong with Cuvée du Cabernet President Rouge:

This garnet-colored red wine (left) hints of orange, lemon, and bramble fruits. A medium-bodied wine,it has good complexity, without being too heavy or too light. It is rich and robust, with a lingering finish.

For those who prefer a heavy-bodied (14%), plum-tasting wine, Bonassia Cabernet Sauvingon (right) is a better choice. Bonassia is a rich and smooth opaque deep ruby-violet, tasting of black currants with hints of vanilla and nutmeg with a floral finish. It is an exceptionally good value, and one of my personal favorites. Matured in stainless steel for three months, and subsequently aged in oak.

The Halana Merlot is a deep garnet-colored wine, tasting of raspberry, floral (jasmine and violet), and a hint of spice. The Halana Syrah tastes of plum and raspberry, licorice, and cinnamon. It also tends to be heavy with tannins.

Vineyards in Meknes

Moroccan Guide To Inexpensive Rosé Wines:

The Thalvin Boulaouane Vin Gris (left) is an especially good value and a personal favorite of mine. It is a light wine, tasting of floral and honeysuckle, raspberry and citrus, with a pleasingly long floral length.

The Halana Syrah Rosé is medium-bodied, and stands up well to meat courses. It tastes of rose petals, strawberry, melon and peach, and of robust minerals.

The “S” de Siroua Cabernet Sauvingnon Rosé (moderately priced in stores at about 120 Dirhams, or 12 Euros, and the most expensive wine listed in this article) is reminiscent of strawberry jam, and also a personal favorite of mine.

Grapes Being Harvested “by Hand” in Meknes

On most bottles of Moroccan wine, you will find the French words “vendage à la main,” which means “harvested by hand.” According to the growers, this not only provides jobs for many Moroccans, but gives a superior quality to the wine when compared with mechanical harvesting methods.

Moroccan Guide To Inexpensive White Wines:

If you enjoy white wine, a light and refreshing Moroccan white you can try, which seems to please most palates, is Thalvin Cuvée du President Sémaillon (no photo available). It is reminiscent of green apples, light minerals, and grapefruit.

Another fresh and clean-tasting Moroccan white is Special Coquillages, found on many hotel and restaurant menus. It tastes of green apple citrus, and minerals, with a hint of grapefruit, and having very long length.

Cap Blanc (no photo available) is another similar white also found on many hotel and restaurant menus. It is a pleasing and inexpensive wine tasting of grapefruit, honeysuckle, and minerals.

If you are interested in visiting the wine-growing regions of Morocco, why not book your next private tour with Travel Exploration?

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or 1 (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.